Wills & Probate

Thinking about the unthinkable

Making a Will is often seen as a daunting prospect for a lot of people but here at Banner Jones we’ll take you through it step by step ensuring that your Will represents everything you want it to. Most of our clients say it’s such a relief to have finally done it and usually they have been putting it off for ages.

Making a Will is commonly associated as something you do in later life however, in reality anyone over the age of 18 can have a Will and we would strongly recommend it to anyone with children. Wills are not for just sorting out finances and property in the event of your death, you can appoint guardians for your children and even leave money to your friends or a charity. Without a Will the government decides these things for you.

Retirement should be the time in your life where you’re able to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour throughout your working life. However, simply paying into your savings or a pension for when you retire might not allow you to do this if you’re not putting enough away. But what does “enough” look like? Here are a few questions to consider to help you get started.

Following the announcement of the snap general election to take place on 8th June, the government has decided to scrap its plans to increase the legal fees due after a person has died. Having proposed a rise in probate fees in England and Wales to come into effect in May, which would have seen an increase from the current flat figures of £155 or £215 to as much as £20,000 for the most valuable estates, the Ministry of Justice announced in the second half of April that there was too little time for the legislation to go through parliament before the election.

We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 493083) under the Solicitors' Code of Conduct. You can access the Code by contacting the SRA, In writing to: The Cube, 199 Wharfside Street, Birmingham, B1 1RN. Fax: 0121 616199. Tel: 0870 6062555 (UK) +44 0121 3296800 (International) or via www.sra.org.uk.

The directors of Banner Jones Ltd are Solicitors of England and Wales.